81 things to do in Milwaukee this weekend

Another weekend, another excuse to get out in Milwaukee. There are 81 events happening Oct 02–Oct 04, and honestly? The lineup is better than we expected. Here's what we'd actually spend our own time and money on.

51 venues are hosting something this weekend, which tells you everything about how busy Milwaukee gets when October rolls around. Ticketed events start at CAD 24.96.

If you only do one thing this weekend, scroll to our top picks — they're the five we'd genuinely clear our schedules for.

The full lineup

Every event on in Milwaukee this weekend, day by day:

Friday — 28 events

• — AFROVIBEZ Milwaukee's Biggest AfroBeats Experience
  Freight 38
• — Alana Springsteen I HOPE THIS HELPS tour
  The Rave-Eagles Club
• — Animation Around the World
  East Branch
• — Baby Story Time
  Bay View Branch
• — Chad Daniels
  Milwaukee Improv (Main Room) · Tickets from CAD 32.39.
• — China Lights Wisconsin 2026
  Boerner Botanical Gardens
• — Friday Night Frights!
  Washington Park Branch
• — KiNG MALA: The Golden Thing Tour w/ Jayden Hammer
  The Argo
• — Leonid and Friends
  Riverside Theater - WI
• — Little Big Town - For The Art Of It Tour
  Miller High Life Theatre
• — Maximizing Anterior Esthetics with IPS e.max CAD
  Expansive Wauwatosa
• — Milwaukee Curling Club - Learn to Curl - Fall 2026
  Milwaukee Curling Club
• — Mini Makers
  Martin Luther King Branch
• — Money Making Content
  Colby Abbot Building
• — Mt. Joy 2026: Celebrating 10 Years Of Mt. Joy
  Landmark Credit Union Live
• — OKTBERFEST Table Reservation (Friday 9/25)
  Heidelberg Park at Bavarian Bierhaus
• — Patches of Peace: A Community Quilt of Love, Memory and Hope
  Central Library
• — Q+A and Signing with Author Rebecca Jenshak
  7300 W Chestnut St
• — Sacred Heart of Wholeness: A Breathwork Journey
  Peace Yoga Studio & Wellness Center
• — Shwayze: The Nostalgia Tour w/ Sammy Adams & Chiddy Bang
  The Argo
• — Snoopy Pumpkin Dreams Paint & Sip
  A Stroke of Genius, Paint Wine Studio
• — Story Time
  Center Street Branch
• — Taking Back Sunday w/ Thrice
  The Rave-Eagles Club
• — Teen Study Hour
  Zablocki Branch
• — Teen Zone
  Martin Luther King Branch
• — Twilight to Sunrise Yoga on the breakwater!
  Roundhouse Beer Garden
• — Typing Basics
  Center Street Branch
• — Western Hat & Suede Ball Cap Hat Workshop | Hat Lady Biz | Milwaukee, WI
  Butler Community Building

Saturday — 35 events

• — "I May Bite" – Little Shop of Horrors Paint & Sip
  A Stroke of Genius, Paint Wine Studio
• — 12-Year Anniversary Sports Card Show
  Salvation Army Community Center
• — 2026 Badger State Championship
  New Berlin Activity and Recreation Center (ARC)
• — 365 Days of Barre with Babes Celebration
  The Hobby Farm - Delafield
• — ABC Academy
  Central Library
• — AIA COLLABORATIVE: "QUEENS & KINGS OF THE 414" SHOWCASE
  Club Timbuktu
• — Architectural Modernism Fall House Tour | Docomomo and Michael P. Johnson
  1021 17th Ave
• — Ashley Cooke: The Baby Blues Tour
  The Rave-Eagles Club
• — Billy Milano presents: 40 Years of S.O.D. !
  Da Bar Music Hall
• — Central Library Architectural Tour
  Central Library
• — Chad Daniels
  Milwaukee Improv (Main Room) · Tickets from CAD 32.39.
• — China Lights Wisconsin 2026
  Boerner Botanical Gardens
• — Cracker
  Shank Hall · Tickets from CAD 40.93.
• — Create Your Own Oracle Cards 2
  Unity Church In Milwaukee
• — Date Party 10/03/26
  Brothers Bar & Grill
• — David DeGroot Bonsai Analysis - Design Improvement
  Boerner Botanical Gardens
• — Fruition
  Shank Hall · Tickets from CAD 24.96.
• — Funerary Art & Symbolism
  Forest Home Cemetery
• — Green Roof Tour
  Central Library
• — Jimmy Flemion of The Frogs: Songs & Stories
  Irving Place Records
• — Labyrinth: In Concert
  Pabst Theater
• — Magical Frog Paint & Sip at The Alibi
  Alibi Tavern LLC
• — Mamma Mania: The American ABBA Tribute (Seated)
  The Argo
• — Militarie Gun
  Vivarium
• — Mixology Masterclass
  Dream Lounge Social
• — No Studios Dance Fest 2026
  Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall
• — Nō Studios DanceFest 2026
  Marcus Performing Arts Center
• — Off-Camera Flash Bootcamp
  Art's Cameras Plus
• — Patches of Peace: A Community Quilt of Love, Memory and Hope
  Central Library
• — Pelvic Health & Wellness Community Education Series
  Bay View Branch
• — Special Olympics Young Athletes
  Martin Luther King Branch
• — TASTE OF CHAOS PRESENTS: In This Moment, Hollywood Undead, I See Stars, Vana, and Melrose Avenue
  The Rave-Eagles Club
• — TBD at Milwaukee Brewers: NLDS (Home Game 1)
  American Family Field
• — The Holdup: The BUYING TIME Tour w/ Cydeways & Dylan Reese
  The Argo
• — Twilight Bat Paint & Sip
  A Stroke of Genius, Paint Wine Studio

Sunday — 18 events

• — Americana Matinee: Amy LaVere & Will Sexton with guests Jack Reed Trio!
  The Cooperage
• — Bus ride to Milwaukee Cheese Bar
  Milwaukee Cheese Bar by Hill Valley Dairy
• — Chance The Rapper - Coloring Book 10 Year Anniversary Tour
  Landmark Credit Union Live
• — China Lights Wisconsin 2026
  Boerner Botanical Gardens
• — Clint Black
  Pabst Theater
• — Cradle & Care's Newborn Education Class
  Authentic Birth Center
• — Fall Junk Journal Craft Sesh MKE
  Manchester Oaks
• — Ghostly Garden Pumpkin Paint & Sip
  A Stroke of Genius, Paint Wine Studio
• — Gnash
  Shank Hall
• — Gwenyn Hill Farm Fall Festival Celebrating 10 years!
  Gwenyn Hill Farm
• — John Heffron
  Milwaukee Improv (Main Room) · Tickets from CAD 28.63.
• — Moonlit Brew Paint & Sip
  A Stroke of Genius, Paint Wine Studio
• — Patches of Peace: A Community Quilt of Love, Memory and Hope
  Central Library
• — Spirits Of Norway Vineyard Tour & Taste Experience 2026
  22200 W 6 Mile Rd
• — Starcrawler w/ Runner and Bobby
  The Argo
• — TBD at Milwaukee Brewers: NLDS (Home Game 2)
  American Family Field
• — The Carpenters Songbook - A Live Celebration
  Uihlein Hall Marcus Center
• — Zarna Garg
  Turner Hall Ballroom

See the full weekend calendar →
All upcoming events in Milwaukee →